Antenna Supplier Taoglas Expands into Wireless Filters

Taoglas announced that it had created a new business unit selling wireless filters, which tune into specific frequency bands used in cellular communications and global positioning systems and block out interference from others.

The company, which sells embedded antennas for everything from wearables to connected cars, has manufactured these parts internally for years. But now, Taoglas is trying to sell inexpensive filters to others. The parts are typically paired with amplifiers and switches in wireless front ends, which hand off signals between radios and antennas.

"We’ve seen the frustrations our own engineers have had in quickly sourcing reliable components for active antenna and electronic designs," said Dermot O’Shea, the company's chief executive, in a statement.

Other firms are pouring money into wireless filters, which are growing in importance as more frequency bands are enlisted for wireless communications. Last year, Skyworks paid $225 million for Panasonic's wireless filter business, including patents. For the next year and a half, Qualcomm will continue making payments as part of a $3 billion deal for TDK's filter division.

Taoglas will sell ceramic, surface acoustic wave, and coaxial filters for Internet of Things applications using unlicensed spectrum or satellite navigation systems using GNSS and GPS. “Today’s mobile and IoT applications require high-performance RF filters, in a form factor and cost that makes sense for our customers,” O'Shea said.